“Travel has a way of stretching the mind. The stretch comes not from travel’s immediate rewards—the inevitable myriad new sights, smells and sounds—but with experiencing first-hand how others do differently what we believed to be the right and only way.” - Ralph Crawshaw

Leaning into the power of travel as a learning tool and an opportunity to explore first-hand a European approach to healthcare, students from the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore expanded their classroom to Italy for a week.

They stopped in bustling Rome for a few days of cultural immersion before heading on to beautiful Palermo, Sicily, to focus on meeting their academic objectives.

In collaboration with their academic partner, the University of Palermo, the group carried out a comparative analysis of the healthcare systems in the U.S. and Italy, examining the history of the development of healthcare, how the healthcare systems evolved over time, the role of government in healthcare, the relationship between culture and health, and the current trends and state of healthcare in each country.

Our team here at EdOdyssey took care of the logistics—everything from accommodation to transportation in Italy to many delicious meals—and cultural guided tours. We built an itinerary around the academic components of the program, focusing on immersing the students in various aspects of Italian culture and lifestyle.

“All seven students really appreciated being exposed to and discussing cultural diversities and the Italian lifestyle,” our Italy Site Director Stefano Parenti reflected. “Traditional dishes in local family-run restaurants played an important role for this purpose. The students also seem to have appreciated the human and personal interaction and connection that I was able to build with them, thanks to their curiosity and open minds.”

When in Rome…

Stefano welcomed the group in Rome where they started their adventure with a program introduction, a look at the daily itinerary, some important safety tips, and a relaxing traditional Roman dinner before they settled in to sleep off their jetlag and re-coup their energy for an action-packed day ahead. 

Walking almost always has a place in our travel itineraries as it’s one of the best ways to discover a city. Rome’s historical center was the perfect place to orient our students with the capital. They spent the day soaking in some of the stories, history, and art representative of the incredible cultural heritage of Italy, snapping photos of Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Navona Square, Pantheon Square, Santa Maria del Popolo, San Luigi dei Francesi, and more, along the way. We debriefed over a Roman-style pizza dinner!

Awake bright and early on day three, we visited the Colosseum and Roman Forum, enjoyed some free time and said farewell to the Eternal City with dinner at a local Trattoria Romana.  

Studying, Walking & Eating in Sicily

On the first full day in Palermo, one of the most gorgeous cities in Italy and the capital of Sicily, we set out on foot once again. Palermo has evidence—in its art, architecture, people, and food—of the blend of many different civilizations (Phoenician merchants, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards, and others) that inhabited the city throughout many millennia. It’s often described as a continent in miniature and noted as a case-study for the creation of Mediterranean culture. We wove through the city together, enjoying surprises around ever corner, from splendid little churches and monuments to souk-like markets with labyrinthine layouts and colorful displays.

For the next few days, students participated in classes and activities organized by the University of Palermo along with a bit of free time, but we did take them on a guided visit of Monreale to see the stunning golden mosaics of Monreale Cathedral (an UNESCO World Heritage Site), and its famous Benedictine cloister.

On their last day in Italy, after an academic site visit to the Maternal and Child Department of ARNAS Civico, we browsed the food market to discover seasonal products, tasting lots of samples from street food vendors, and learning some secrets of Sicilian cuisine. We tasted the best arancini in the city, the intriguing Sfincione pizza, the vegetarian panelle and cazzilli fritters, the unique pani cà meusa (veal offal roll), the extraordinary cannoli with ricotta cream and the brioche con il gelato and some other fun surprises! After their last few hours of free time, we came together for a Sicilian farewell dinner.

Creating Custom Programs in Italy

Work with us to build a short-term custom program in Italy for a cohort of your own middle school, high school, or university students. From Italy’s most popular destinations like Rome and Florence to exciting non-traditional settings like the Pellice Valley, we’ll recommend locations across the country with opportunities to meet your learning objectives. Our team arranges all of the logistics for you and creates a full itinerary that delivers the best possible immersion experience linking your academic goals to local culture and resources.